Hot Topics:

More than a foot of snow could dump on Boulder County early next week

Forecasters say looming snowstorm has potential to be big — or not

By Mitchell Byars

Staff Writer

Posted:
01/28/2016 03:44:51 PM MST

Updated:
01/28/2016 07:07:19 PM MST

Indian Peaks Elementary fifth-graders enjoy the warm weather while playing on the new playground at Affolter Park in Longmont on Thursday. Last year, more than 50 students were involved in helping design a new playground at the park adjacent to Indian Peaks, 1335 S. Judson St. (Lewis Geyer / Staff Photographer)

Forecast

Friday: Partly sunny; high of 55, low of 37

Saturday: High of 55, low of 30 with a 40 percent chance of rain and snow

Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts, because winter is coming back with a vengeance next week.

Despite highs in the 50s through Saturday, Boulder County could see more than a foot of snow Monday as a storm descends on the Front Range.

Local meteorologist Matt Kelsch said a large moist storm system from the Pacific Ocean will impact the Front Range in two waves.

"The first phase Saturday night into Sunday morning is likely to bring significant snow to mountain areas, and some minor snow to the Front Range urban corridor," Kelsch said. "Then, after a lull, the main storm system Sunday night into Monday has the potential to bring widespread snow throughout the Front Range region."

While it's too early to tell for sure, Scott Entrekin with the National Weather Service in Boulder said the snowfall could be anywhere from the 2-to-4 inch range all the way up to 10-to-15 inches.

Advertisement

"It's certainly showing some pretty good potential," Entrekin said. "It's hard to say at this point. It could be a couple of inches to upwards of a foot of snow. It will depend on the exact track of the storm and the timing."

Entrekin said there could be some light snow on Saturday and into Sunday, but he said he expects the heaviest snowfall to come on Monday and possibly into Tuesday.

University of Colorado students Dylan Beloin, top left, Cooper Cuntz, Zach Reeves and Brian Singleton play basketball in the warm sun at the court near New Vista High School in Boulder on Thursday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)

"A front will be coming through on Saturday into Sunday, but that will be more localized," Entrekin said. "Snow will be spreading over the area during the day on Monday and then late Monday night into Tuesday morning."

Regardless of when it hits, Kelsch said it will likely be the biggest snowfall of the young year in Boulder County.

"We may see the most significant snow since the 6-to-12 inches that fell on Dec. 15," Kelsch said. "Either way, be prepared for some changes Saturday evening, and wintry weather into Monday."

Things aren't expected to cool down until Saturday night, but Boulder County could see some high winds before the storm.

"The mild weather Friday and Saturday may be accompanied by some chinook winds in and near the foothills," Kelsch said. "An all-out windstorm is not expected, but some warm gusty winds may help erode the remaining ice patches that have been around since the second week of December."

Friday's forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high of 55 and winds 8 mph to 17 mph with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday's forecast calls for partly sunny skies with a high of 55 and winds 9 mph to 14 mph with gusts as high as 21 mph.

The high on Sunday is expected to drop down to 35, with the high on Monday expected to be near 30.

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story